Comedian and actor Martin Mull, known for his roles in the television shows Fernwood 2 nights, RoseanneAnd Veepdied on Thursday, his daughter announced in a social media post. He was 80 years old.
“It breaks my heart to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th after a brave battle with a long illness,” Maggie Mull wrote on Instagram on Friday. “He was known for excelling in every creative discipline imaginable, including his Red Roof Inn commercials. He thought this joke was funny. He was always funny.”
“My father will be sadly missed by his wife and daughter, by his friends and colleagues, by fellow artists, comedians and musicians and – the mark of a truly extraordinary person – by many, many dogs. I loved him infinitely.”
Mull’s career as a painter and musician began in the early 1970s with performances for Randy Newman, Frank Zappa and Bruce Springsteen. A few years later, Mull’s television career began with a supporting role in the satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary HartmanIn the spin-off series Fernwood 2 nightsMull played talk show host Barth Gimble, with Fred Willard as his sidekick. In 1978, Mull continued to play Gimble in America 2 nights.
Other television roles include restaurant manager Leon Carp in seven seasons of Roseanne in the 1990s, and political consultant Bob Bradley in Veepfor which Mull received an Emmy nomination in 2016. Mull also played the clumsy private detective Gene Parmesan in Arrested developmentand provided voiceovers in The simpsons, family Guy And American father.
Several of Mull’s colleagues and former colleagues spoke about his death late Friday. Harry Shearer of Fernwood tonight paid tribute to X, Write:
“It took me a moment to realise that Martin Mull had died. In the late 70s we worked together on Fernwood tonight & the follow-up series. We wrote together, often on the beach (!), and sometimes I came out and chatted with him. Lots of laughs! Always a pleasure to be around. RIP MM.”
Director Paul Feig also commented.
“Oh man, that’s so sad. Martin was the greatest. So funny, so talented, such a nice guy. I was lucky to play with him The Jackie Thomas Show and enjoyed every moment I spent with a legend,” said Feig wrote on X.”Fernwood tonight had such a huge impact on my life. RIP Martin.”
